Disconnecting switch



- c. GQKOPPITZ 2,171,182 D ISCONNE GTING SWITdH Filed Aug. 5, 1937', 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 29, 1939.

" c.. G. KOPPITZ DISCbNNECTING SWITCH 4 shuts-shed 2 Filed Aug. 5,- i957 a a av a III I Aug. 29, 1939. c. G. KOPPITZ DISCONNEGTING SWITCH Filed Aug. 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet s unnfl l I l l c. G.'KOPPITZ 2,171,182

DISGONNECTING SWITCH Filed Aug. 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 29, 1939.

. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\vvv\ Patented Aug. 29, 1939 PATENT OFFICE DISCONNECTING swrrcn Carl G. Koppitz, Grcensburg, Pa., assignor, by meme-assignments, to Railway & Industrial Engineering Company, Greensburg, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application August 5, 1937. Serial No. 157,606

15 Claims.

This invention relates to disconnecting switches for high voltage circuits, and particularly to disconnecting switches of the type in which a contact blade enters freely into a jaw element and is then brought into firm contact engagement with the jaw element.

An object of this invention is to provide dis-- connecting switches including a pivotally mounted contact blade, and mechanism for expanding or spreading the contact portions of the blade into firm engagement with the jaw element after the blade has completed its angular movement into the jaw element. An object is to provide a switch including a jaw element, a tubular contact blade having contact portions for engagement with the jaw element, and operating mech anism for imparting angular movement to the blade and for spreading-the contact portions of the blade at the final stage of a closing movement of the switch. More particularly, an object is to provide a pivoted contact blade of tubular form, and operating means for moving the blade into a jaw element and then deforming the blade to force portions thereof into firm engagement with the jaw element.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention willbe apparent from the following specification when taken with the accompanying drawings in which: I

Fig. l is a side elevation. with the switch illustratedin closed position, of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the contact blade;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar transverse section on the same planebut illustrating the parts in the positions which they assume when the switch is open;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through the end of a contact blade having a modified form of contact surfaces;

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sections illustrating the contact blocks of Fig. 6 in withdrawn and in closed positions, respectively;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of another form of contact blade;

Flg..10 is an enlarged vertical section of the contact end of the blade; and

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are transverse sections on the planes of Fig. 10 indicated as II, II,- l2, l2 and I3, l3, respectively.

In the drawings, the reference numeral I identines a fixed insulator w h c sstli jaw housing 4 and carries the crank arm 6 of the switch operating mechanism. The switch insulator columns are mounted in-fixed position upon a supporting structure 1, and the column 5 has an arm 8 for connection to the mechanism (not 10 shown) for the manual or power actuation of the switch. Appropriate forms of connectors 9 are secured to the jaw member 2 and housing 4, respectively, for connecting the switch into a line. The contact blade I0 is a relatively thin .walled tube of resilient metal of good electrical conductivity, such as phosphor bronze, that is secured to the yoke l I which is pivotally supported on the housing 4. A shaft l2 extends along the axis of the tube l0 and is rotatably mounted in bearings l3 which are carried by the yoke II and a sleeve l4 that is fixed within the outer end of A tube 10 by screws l5. A crank arm "5 is secured to the end of shaft l2 adjacent the pivotally supported end of the blade, and the crank arm is connected to the crank 6 of the rotatable insulator column by the forked link l1 and the universal joint l8.

The described type of linkage is well known in the art and has the following operating characteristics. The crank 6 -may be turned clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, through about 180 to open the switch. During the initial portion of this clockwise movement of the crank 6, the force exerted upon the end of link I! is in a plane approximately parallel to the pivotal axis of the blade to and results in a rocking of the crank arm l6 about the axis of shaft I2. When the crank 6 has moved clockwise about 30, the crank pulls the link I! toward the left, as viewedin Fig. l, and this pull results in an angular movement of the entire switch blade I about its pivotal support on the housing4. The initial movement of crank 6 for a switch in closing opera-* tion exerts a thrust upon the link ll which rotates the entire blade from an approximately vertical position into the illustrated position. The final portion of the movement of the crank 6 produces a lateral twist on the end of link I! which results in a rocking movement of the crank arm l6 and shaft I2.

In accordance with this invention, the rocking or angular movement of the shaft I2 is employed to expand or spread the contact portion of blade l0 into firm engagement with the jaw element 2.

"eter of the contact blocks I9 is somewhat less than the width of the gap of the jaw element 2, and the contact blade therefore enters freely into the jaw element. The outer end of the shaft l2 carries eccentrics 20, 20' on which the eccentric rings 2|, 2| are journalled. Headed studs 22, 22 extend through the upper and lower portions of the tubular contact arm l and are secured, respectively, to the eccentric rings 2|, 2|. Cylindrical plates 23 are arranged between the heads of the studs and the tube Hi to distribute the pressure over a substantial portion of the thin walled tube.

The tubular blade is imperforate and substantially closed at its hinge end by the bearing l3 and at its outer end by a cap 24. The operating mechanism is thereby protected against dirt, water and ice. A jumper connection 25 of high electrical conductivity is preferably provided be-' tween the housing 4 and the tube III of the contact blade. Either the opening or the closing movement of the blade may be facilitated by spring mechanism in the housing 4. As shown in Fig. 3, the spring 26 is so connected to an arm 21 on the yoke II as to exert a force tending to retain the contact blade in closed position.

The eccentrics 20, 20 are diametricallyopposed and so arranged on shaft l2 that the total effective length of the studs 22, 22' is a minimum when the crank arm l6 has reached its final switch-closed position. The vertical dimension of the tubular blade is therefore contracted by the rocking movement of the shaft l2 and the horizontal dimension of the contact blade is thereby enlarged. This movement forces the contact blocks l9 apart and brings them into firm engagement with the jaw element 2. The initial movement of crank arm l and shaft l2 at the opening of the switch rocks the eccentrics into the positions illustrated in Fig. 5, and the resilient blade I0 is thus permitted to assume its normal circular configuration to withdraw the contact blocks from engagement with the jaw element 2.

The contact blade Ill need not be resilient when, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, a pair of contact blocks 24 are pivotally supported within the tube II) and have contact portions 29 that extend to the exterior of the tube where they are provided with non-oxidizing contact surfaces 30. The blocks 28 are of arcuate form and are loosely guided for rectilinear movement by pins 3| that extend through openings in the opposite ends of the blocks. The ends of leaf springs 32 engage the upper and lower ends of the blocks 2| and the intermediate portions of the leaf springs are spaced from the blocks in positions to be engaged by the cam 33. The cam 33 is formed as a sleeve that is mounted on the outer end of the shaft l2 and has a clutch section 34 at one end for engagement with a similar clutch sec tion 35 that is keyed to the shaft l2. The cam sleeve is retained on shaft 12 in the desired position of angular adjustment by nuts 36 threaded upon the outer end of the shaft. The

cam sleeve is mounted in a roller bearing 21 in the end cap 3! of the blade M. The operating mechanism is well protected within the tubular blade as the tube It is circumferentially complete except for the openings through which the contact projections 29 extend. The contact blocks 28 are supported upon the annular insert 39 by flat spring members 40 thattend to force the contacts 28 inwardly towards each other. The members 40 are of a resilient metal of good electrical conductivity, such as phosphor bronze, since these members carry the current from the contact blocks to the blade Ill.

The described embodiments of the invention employ the angular movement of the shaft to force the contact blocks into engagement with the jaw element. The construction illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13 provides a longitudinal movement of the shaft for expanding the contact blade. The structures for supporting and actuating the contact blade of Fig. 9 are or may be substantially identical with those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The contact blade includes the yoke member 4i which carries the tubular sleeve 42 that is closed at its outer end by a cap 43. A shaft 44 is rotatably supported at the axis of the sleeve 42. and carries the crank arm 45 that is connected to the operating mechanism. A cam 46 is secured to the shaft 44 and has an inclined track for receiving the pin 41 that is fixed to the yoke 4|. The angular movement of the shaft 44 thus results in an axial displacement of the shaft. The wedge member 48 that is secured to the outer end of shaft 44 is formed as a body of revolution having a conical surface which flares outwardly from the small diameter inner end of thewedge member. A pair of levers 49 extend along opposite sides of the wedge member 48 and are pivotally supported within the sleeve 42 by studs 50 that pass through the wall of the tube and into the inner end of the levers. Rollers 5! are mounted in slots in levers 49 for engagement with the wedge member 48, and these rollers are held against the wedge member by bolts 52 that are threaded into the outer ends of the levers 48 and have heads that bear against the sleeve 42. Contact blocks 53 having non-oxidizing contact surfaces 54 are secured to bosses 55 that are pressed in the sleeve 42 at or near the transverse plane of the axis of rollers 5|. The parts are illustrated in the positions which they occupy when the switch is open. The smaller diameter portion of wedge member 48 is in engagement with the rollers 5| and the conical surface is initially adjacent the rollers in'position to be drawn between the same by a movement of shaft 44 to the left, Fig. 11. Pressure thus applied to the rollers during the final closing movement of the switch operating mechanism will be transmitted through levers 49 to points on the sleeve 42 that are spaced from the plane of the contact blocks 53. The resilient sleeve 42 is spread laterally by the pressure to carry the contact surfaces 54 into engagement with the jaw element. This transmission of pressure through the levers to the tube wall at some distance from the plane of contact engagement has the'advantage that the resiliency of the elements in the path of pressure transmission results in good contact pressures in spite of such variations in the dimensions of the parts as may arise during manufacture or through wear.

The several illustrated constructions are indicative of the wide latitude in the design and method of operation of disconnecting switches which embody the invention.

I claim:

1. A disconnecting switch comprising a jaw element, a contact blade, means supporting said blade for movement to carry one end thereof into tact portions into engagement with the jaw element.

2'. A disconnecting switch comprising a jaw element, a pivotally mounted blade element having a substantially closed tubular end for entering the jaw element, contact surfaces carried by said tubular end, and operating mechanism for imparting angular movement to said blade, said mechanism including means extending into the tubular end of said blade to force said contact surfaces apart and into engagement with said jaw element.

3. A disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said contact surfaces are rigidly secured to said tubular end of the contact blade, and said means includes members movable to deform the tubular end. a

4. A disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 2,

. wherein said contact surfaces are provided on blocks movably supported within and having contact portions extending through the wall of the tubular end of-said contact arm.

5. A disconnecting switch comprising a jaw element, a tubular contact blade, means mounting said blade for pivotal movement to carry the free end thereof intq and out of said jaw element, diametrically opposed contact blocks carried, by the free end of said contact blade, a shaft substantially coaxial with said tubular element and a crank arm projecting therefrom adjacent said blade mounting means, means operable upon angular motion of said shaft to force said contact blocks apart, and operating means connected to said crank arm to effect pivotal movement of said blade and angular movement of said shaft when the blade is positioned within said jaw element.

6.v A disconnecting switch comprising a jaw element, a tubular contact blade, means pivotatlly supporting one end of said blade, the free end of said blade being substantially complete circumferentially, an end cap closing the free end of said blade, contact blocks carried by the free end of said blade, resilient means tending to draw said contact blocks towards each other to decrease the separation of the contact surface thereof to less than the gap of said jaw element, and operating means including a shaft within said contact blade for forcing said contact blocks apart at the final stage of a closing movement of the disconnecting switch.

7. A disconnecting switch comprising a jaw element, a contact blade and means at one end thereof providing a pivotal support for said blade, contact blocks carried by the free end of said blade, a shaft rotatably mounted within said blade and having a crank arm projecting therefrom adjacent the pivoted end of said blade, means operable by angular movement of said shaft to spread said contact blocks apart, resilient means opposing such spreading movement, and operating mechanism for said. blade connected to said crank arm.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 7, wherein said blade is a substantially closed thin-walled tube of resilient metal, said contact blocks are rigidly secured to said tubular contact blade, and said spreading means includes means for deforming the tubular contact blade.

9. A disconnecting switch comprising a jaw element, a tubular contact blade, means pivotally supporting the blade at one end thereof, contact blocks carried by the other end of said blade, a shaft rotatably mounted within said blade and having a. crank arm adjacent the supported end of said blade, operating means connected to said crank arm for imparting pivotal movement to said blade and angular movement to said shaft, and

means actuated by angular movement of said' shaft to contract said tubular contact blade in a plane normal to the plane of said contact blocks,

' thereby to spread said blocks apart.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 9, wherein said blade-contracting means comprises eccentrics on said shaft, eccentric rings journalled on said eccentrics, headed studs extending through the wall of said blade and secured to said eccentric rings,'and pressure-distributing plates between the heads of said studs and the blade.

11. A disconnecting switch comprising a jaw element, a tubular contact blade, means pivotally supporting the blade at one end thereof, contact blocks carried by the other end of said blade, a

shaft rotatably mounted within said blade and and cooperating cam members on said blade and shaft for effecting axial movement of said shaft upon angular movement of the same.

13. Ina disconnecting switch, a tubular contact blade having means at one end for pivotally supporting the blade, diametrically opposed contact blocks at the free end of said blade, a shaft within and extending longitudinally of said blade, means supporting said shaft for angular motion about its axis, and means operable by angular motionof said shaft to spread said contact blocks apart.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 13, wherein said blade is of resilient metal, and said block-spreading means comprises 'means for contacting said blade in 'a plane normal to the plane of said contact blocks.

15. The invention as claimed in claim 13, 5

wherein said contact blocks are separate from and secured to said blade by spring arms tending to move said blocks towards each other, said blocks having contact portions extending through ope'nings in said tubular blade; and said blockspreading means includes a cam on said shaft, and spring means between said cam and said blocks.

CARL G. KOPPIT Z.

CERTIFICATE OF GORRECZ'ION. Patent No. 2,171,182. August 29, l959.

v CARL G. KOPPITZ; I

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line M claim 6, for "pivotatlly" read pivotally; and second column, line 57-58, claim lLL, for "contacting" read contracting; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the :aame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Sigmed and sealed this 26th day of September, A. D. 1959 Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

